Taunton man who threatened bus driver had two knives, police say

Thursday

Apr 12, 2018 at 12:28 PMApr 12, 2018 at 7:01 PM

TAUNTON – The city man who threatened to stab and kill a bus driver Wednesday afternoon was carrying two knives, police said.

The box-cutter-style knives, cops said, were found in the outer pocket of an unzipped duffle bag being carried by Robert T. Tran, 47, last known address 173 Highland St., apt. 204, also known as Governor Winthrop Condominiums.

Tran, who initially refused to identify himself to officers, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon on a person 60 or older; disturbing the peace while armed; threatening to commit a crime; and disorderly conduct.

The GATRA driver, Nelson Amaral, told the Taunton Daily Gazette that a man, later identified as Tran, became angry after Amaral informed Tran he would have to pay $1 to continue traveling on the bus, which had stopped at Hannaford supermarket on Joseph Warner Boulevard.

“He said, ‘I want you to get off the bus so I can stab you in the neck — I’m gonna kill you,’” Amaral, 64, said.

Amaral said he unbuckled his seat belt, got off the bus, told two women waiting for the bus to not get on board and then walked inside the supermarket looking for help.

Amaral said Tran, who smelled of alcohol, followed him into the building while pointing at and harassing him.

Police say they caught up with Tran a short time later as he was walking out of McDonald’s on Winthrop Street, which is located not far from the supermarket.

A McDonald’s employee told cops Tran was acting “very sketchy” and that he loudly announced he was “going to (expletive) hurt somebody.”

Police said Tran smelled of booze and was shouting obscenities as they spoke to him in front of the restaurant.

Amaral, who said he has been a GATRA driver for just over two years, said he wasn’t sure he would be able to finish his route.

“I’m shaking. I’m nervous,” he said.

Police say Tran admitted to being on the GATRA bus but denied having made a threat.

He also claimed he had only told Amaral that he would “meet you after work.”